PM Modi gifts Australian PM Anthony Albanese a ‘Colonial Cousins’ vinyl

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's latest diplomatic gift was more than a ceremonial exchange. During his official visit to Australia, he presented Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with a collector's edition vinyl of Colonial Cousins, the iconic album by Hariharan and Leslee Lewis that transformed India's independent music landscape in the 1990s.

The gesture reflects a growing tradition of using culture as diplomacy. Over the years, Modi has gifted world leaders handwoven textiles, regional handicrafts, traditional artworks, spiritual texts and GI-tagged creations that showcase India's artistic and cultural diversity. This time, it was music that took centre stage.

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Released in 1996, Colonial Cousins arrived at a moment when Indian pop was finding its own identity. Hariharan, celebrated for his classical training, ghazals and playback singing, joined forces with composer and producer Leslee Lewis, whose background in Western pop and rock brought a fresh perspective. Together, they created a sound that blended Indian ragas with contemporary arrangements without compromising either tradition.

Songs like Krishna, Indian Rain, Sa Ni Dha Pa and Teri Meri Aankhon Mein became defining tracks of the era, introducing listeners to a style that felt unmistakably Indian while speaking a global musical language. The album went on to earn international recognition and helped place Indian fusion music on the world map.

The vinyl gifted to Albanese also taps into the global revival of analogue music.

Once considered a relic of the past, vinyl records have witnessed a resurgence among collectors and younger listeners alike, prized for their tactile appeal, artwork and immersive listening experience. Choosing the album in this format added another layer of meaning, turning it into both a cultural artefact and a collector's piece.

More than a nostalgic keepsake, the gift celebrated the enduring influence of Hariharan and Leslee Lewis. Their collaboration proved that Indian classical music and Western pop could coexist effortlessly, opening new creative possibilities for artists who followed.

In honouring Colonial Cousins, the Prime Minister wasn't simply gifting an album. He was sharing a piece of India's cultural story, one that continues to resonate across generations and across borders.

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Some albums become chart-toppers. Colonial Cousins became a milestone that continues to define an era of Indian music.